Game 162: WILDCARD-A-GEDDON SUNDAY!

Rooting for something that won't make me too pissed that I'll be at the NY Film Festival during part of a Monday night game.

go cleveland, go TB (i guess), go angels

sideshow that no else cares about: if the braves win and the cards lose, braves get home field advantage throughout playoffs - if the cards win or the braves lose, cards get it.

so go cardinals obv, sure everyone else will agree with that

home field advantage throughout playoffs

oh, except for the WS obviously, because this year the all-star game counts

Here are the AL scenarios:

http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/2013/09/updated-al-wild-card-scenarios-for-texas-rangers-cleveland-indians-and-tampa-bay-rays.html/

I'm not even going to attempt to read that.

I have nothing against TB, but GO JAYS (when was the last time they played spoiler for someone?)

It's on days like this that I don't understand people who say the new wildcard system is unfair because "the entire season comes down to one game". The season comes down to the final weekend (or final day) for some teams in most years, and when it doesn't people complain that there were no good pennant races. Why would a G163 play-in game be more unfair than a G162 play-in game? If anything, the wildcard play-in is more fair because you have to beat your direct competition to move on.

my problem is in the NL this year: that Pittsburgh HAS ALREADY beaten their direct competition.

anyway, looks like i may not miss anything even if there is Monday play:

In event of 3-way tie, Indians will host Rays Monday at 4:07pm ET. Winner secures top WC spot, loser visits Rangers Tuesday, 4:07pm ET.

when was the last time they played spoiler for someone?

Are we including Jays fans here? (Sorry, I'm whining again.)

if the braves win and the cards lose, braves get home field advantage throughout playoffs - if the cards win or the braves lose, cards get it.

Ugg, gross. Which team with a vile, hot-headed catcher should we be rooting for

the rangers

yeah, I hate Texas, StL and the Braves about equally. If TB doesn't make it in I'm going w/ Oakland-Pittsburgh all the way.

http://rallysquirrel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/yadi-4.jpg
http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/files/2009/06/slideshow_1070495_mccann0508_cc11_1.jpg

Cleveland:

@MLBastian
Only 5 teams in the Modern Era have ended a season on a 10-game winning streak. The last occurrence: 1971 Orioles.

ok, I've heard of Reyes, Lawrie and Arencibia

james loney

Redmond deadmond

TB taking the advice of Buck Martinez's partner -- is that Tabler? -- who sez getting an early lead of 4 runs makes it easier to win. Christ, the genius.

Why watch games that matter when you can watch Jhonny Peralta play left field?

rip st petersburg native todd redmond

good, I can run errands til 2:10 now.

This just in from Cincy: Hurdle smart enough to rest McCutchen, Dusty dumb enough to play Votto and Choo.

(twisted ankles, anyone?)

i imagine alvarez is only playing because he's tied for the nl hr lead

votto never misses games, i'd bet he wanted to play

fucking Selma Diamond

these games are all gonna be one-sided, right? spoilerism is so 1960s

Trout is gonna hafta do this by himself

Darren Oliver's last appearance here

Getting thrown out of the game and getting Lind to hit into a rally killing double play a minute later was all part of Maddon's master plan.

that's basically what the Toronto booth is sayin

oh shiiiii rays

Way to make Gose look like a fool on those first two pitches and then give him a gift, Fernando Rodney.

that's basically what the Toronto booth is sayin

and I didn't understand it then either

ok, TB doesn't deserve a WC if they let this Hindenburg of a team beat them

"That was the eighth?" -- Fernando Rodney

When did Adam Lind turn into 1983 Jeff Burroughs?

Haven't been paying too much attention. Which game should I be watching right now?

Tampa wins.

TEX-LAA, Evan.

CLE-MIN almost in the bag.

Thanks, Andy. Who am I rooting for? I want the outcome that a) causes the most chaos and b) makes things statistically more difficult for the Cards, however marginally

texas winning creates more chaos, but do we really want it at that price?

For total chaos, root MIN and TEX = 3-way tie for 2 wild cards spots.

i would like to see a game tomorrow, that would be fun.

Peace out, Hambone.

Meanwhile, we're in the top of the 14th at Minute Maid.

i don't know what's happening.

yeah, we get a game 163 tomorrow.

which I will miss nearly all of.

Rangers vs Rays and the winner vs Indians - correct?

it's like a who's-who of teams I want to see lose!

youd like the Rays if they had spent like drunken sailors like a certain East rival i'm thinking of.

TAM David Price LHP (9-8, 3.39 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 2.5 WAR)
vs.
TEX Martin Perez LHP (11-9, 4.01 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 1.7 WAR)

Texas holds a 4-3 advantage on the seasonal matchups between the two teams (2-1 in Arlington).

Tampa is 29-23 vs. LHP starters, Texas is 32-18 !!!

Tampa is 40-41 on the road, Texas is 46-35 at home.

As much as I like them, I just can't see this going to Tampa.

what if it turns on Wash's bullpen management?

youd like the Rays if they had spent like drunken sailors like a certain East rival i'm thinking of.

i liked the Rays fucking fine before they added a piece of shit racist to their team.

ah i'm sure there are others around

sure. but none that have been actually been convicted of a hate crime that i'm aware of tho.

so the play in game is going to be on TBS at 8 ET, tomorrow.

no it's the sudden death for the play-in

the play-in play-in

i don't think the first round is a play-in

i guess i'm saying that 163 is the play-in and the next round is now playoffs...

but yeah that really isn't right, so i get your point.